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Google Wins Five YouTube Typo-Squatted Domains

Google has won a handful of domains with minor spelling differences from YouTube’s domain: youtbe.com, youtub.com, youtue.com, youube.com and yutube.com.

As Fusible.com reports, the five domains redirected users to visitorsurvey.com, a site that used YouTube’s legal marks while collecting personal information in exchange for “offers” such as gift cards from Best Buy and/or Visa. All five domains were owned by one individual and were registered in 2005.

In his decision for the National Arbitration Forum, Judge Harold Kalina ruled Thursday that the five domains met the three requirements to transfer the domains to Google under ICANN rules:

(1) The domain name registered by Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which Complainant has rights; and

(2) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and

(3) The domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

Google filed its complaint in late November; the domain owner didn’t respond to the complaint.

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About The Author

Matt McGee is the Editor-In-Chief of Search Engine Land. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. After leaving traditional media in the mid-1990s, he began developing and marketing websites and continued to provide consulting services for more than 15 years. His SEO and social media clients ranged from mom-and-pop small businesses to one of the Top 5 online retailers. Matt is a longtime speaker at marketing events around the U.S., including keynote and panelist roles. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee and/or on Google Plus. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog.